The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria gives an insight on why the MPC reduced interest rate for the first time in three years

By Emeka Ejere

THE reduction of the benchmark lending rate from 14 percent to 13.5 percent by the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is to further promote economic growth, Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor has said.

Emefiele, who was briefing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, March 26 on the outcome of the 266th MPC meeting, said all 11 members were present at the meeting and six out of 11 of them voted to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, by 50 basis point.

This is the first time the rate has been altered since July 2016.

The CBN governor, however, explained that two members voted to reduce the MPR by 25 basis point, another two members voted to hold the MPR at 14 percent while one member voted to reduce it by 100 basis point.

He also revealed that 10 members voted to hold all other parameters at the present rate, while only one member voted to reduce the cash reserve ratio.

To this effect, he said the Cash Reserves Ratio, CRR, remain unchanged at 22.5 percent, liquidity at 30 percent and Asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR.

“The committee felt that given the relative stability in the key macroeconomic variables, there is a need to signal a new direction and in which case we are talking about being pro-growth.

“In its argument the committee was convinced that doing this would further uphold the bank’s commitment to promoting strong growth by way of encouraging credit flow to the productive sector of the economy.

“The MPC also felt that signalling through loosening by a marginal rate will serve to manage the sentiment in the capital flow market owing to a wider spread in yields in the emerging market and developing economies relative to the advanced economies.

“Moreover the real interest rate will still remain positive,’’ he said.

On the overall outlook and risks, the CBN governor said forecasts of key macroeconomic variables indicate a positive outlook for the economy in 2019.

He said that the committee also harped on the need to debase the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of the country, which was last carried out in 2010.

“The committee, however, expressed concern and sympathises with the fiscal authorities over the growing fiscal debt, fiscal deficit, external debt and debt servicing.

“The committee also noted the improvement in financial systems stability and the soundness in key financial indicators.

“The MPC also commended the federal government for the settlement of debt owed to oil marketers which has helped considerably in reducing the non-performing loans in the banking industry.

“They also urged the government to further settle outstanding arrears to its contractors,” he said.

Emefiele reiterated the apex bank’s commitment to providing the necessary leverage to support economic growth and development in the country.

The MPR determines the levels of the rest of the interest rates in the economy, since it is the price at which private agents-mostly private banks-obtain money from the central bank. The banks then offer financial products to their clients at an interest rate that is normally based on the policy rate.

As the baseline interest rate upon which every other interest rate used within an economy is built, MPR is always fixed with a view to ensuring price stability and general trust in a country’s currency.

BE

– Mar. 27, 2019 @ 13:49 GMT |